Frequency modulator



July 3, 1945. w. P. ASON 2,379,819

' FREQUENCY MODULATOR Original Filed March 7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l 20 2s 26 i; g E 28 ,3 22

l9 5 6 I: r 2/ *I I I P 'I I I INVENTOR WRMASON r 31 ATTORNEY July 3, 1945. w MASON 2,379,819

FREQUENCY MODULATOR Original Filed March 7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F IG. 7

fi'llllk FIG.

INVENTOR WRMASON Arramvzv July 3, 1945.

w. P. MASON 2,379,819

FREQUENCY MODULATOR Original Filed March 7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l/Vl/ENTUR Y W P. MASON (6V ATTORNEY Patented July .3, 1945 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE v i I 2,379,819

FREQUENCY MODULATOR Original application March 7, 1941, Serial No.

382,180. Divided and this 1942, Serial No. 438.703

6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus in which a wave guide or resonator .is associated with an electron stream to enable an electromagnetic field which may be set up in the-wave guide or resonator to induce a teristic property of the electron stream.

Inv particular, it relates'to means and methods for improving the coupling between an excitation system and an electron stream in such manner as to enable'the impressed field to induce a current or density variation. in the electron stream by accelerating and decelerating, or bunching, the electrons in a more eiiicient manner than heretofore.

In accordance with the invention, the impedance attributable to the wave guide orresonator is to be substantially matchedby the impedance of the electron stream. The result of such an improved impedance match is a more efllcient transfer of energy and power between the excitation means and the electron stream. The meaning to be attributed to the term impedance of the electron stream" will become more apparent in what follows but maybe briefly defined as the ratio between the voltageset up by the field and the resultant current developed in the electron stream by the action of the field.

The present application is a division of a copending application, Serial No. 382,180, filed March 7, 1941, and is directed to a variable frequency oscillator, or frequency modulating system, using broad band coupling circuits and a low impedance electron stream.

Various systems have been proposed wherein an electron stream usually in the form of a beam and initially of uniform density is set up by means of an electron .gun or other means together with focussing r collimating means. Density variations are thereafter impressed upon the electron stream or beam by the action of an electromagnetic field arranged to act upon the stream between two closely spaced transverse planes in the stream. As a practical matter the field is genvariation in some characerally set up in a resonator and produces'a voltage between a pair of grids or screens Or other electron permeable electrodes in the path of the electron stream. The resonator may be considered in many respects analogous to a parallel tuned circuit in which the gapbetween the abovementioned electrodes corresponds to the usual condenser across which a periodic diiference of potential is developed. The effective impedance of such a circuit at resonance is well known to be approximately L/CR where L is the lumped inductance, C the lumped capacitance, and R the application March 28,

resistance. In any event, the voltage which appears across the electrodes of the resonator may be treated as certain 'intemal impedance, determined by the structure and damping of the resonator.

'In a device of the kind being considered, the voltage generated by the resonator is employed to bunch electrons in the electron stream. Actually, the electrons of the stream are acted upon by the resonator substantially only while in the space between the two electrodes. The initial speed of the electrons and the spacing of the electrodes are usually so adjusted that the transit time of an electron between the electrodes is a small fraction of the cyclic time of an oscillation of the resonator. In particular, if an electron were subject to the field for more than half the cycle, it will be noted that the effect of the field upon the electron in the second half cycle would partially or completely nullify the: eifect of the first half cycle. When the transit time is a small fraction of the cycle, an electron is. accelto the small transit time, so the electrons leave w 'the gap at only slightly different speeds and are still nearly as uniformly spaced as they were initially, for there has not been time for any noticeable drifting apart. bunching that has been efiected, its presence is significant with regard to the problem of impedance matching. It is evident that any small degree of bunching that occurs between the electrodes represents the equivalent of a small current at the operating frequency. This current is produced by the operation of the voltage generated in'the resonator. This voltagein producing a relatively small current is evidently working into a relatively high impedance. The impedance so determined is what has above been defined as the impedance of the electron stream. The well-known principles oi energy and power transfer require that the impedance of the electron stream be matched to the impedance of the generator, in this case the resonator, in order that maximum power may be transferred from the generator to the'electron stream.

In accordance with the invention, an impedance match between the resonator and the electron stream may be promoted inseveral ways.

In the ordinary practical case in the present state of the art the impedance of the electron the voltage of a generator of a However small the stream is likely to be rather large in comparison with the impedance of the resonator. The impedance of the electron stream has been seento be a measure of the amount of density variation effected in the electron stream during the passage of the stream between the electrodes of the resoneffective impedance of the resonator by increasingthe value of R. Consequently, in the absence of predesign the electron stream impedance is most likely to-be too large and the resonator impedance too small, thereby precluding a substantial impedance match.

The impedance of the electron stream is fundamentally a matter of the efliciency (ii-control over the electron stream by a voltage impressed upon the electrodes placed in the path of the stream. The efiectiveness' of the'control isdependent upon the strength of field set up bythe voltage between the electrodes and-the transit time of the electron in the region containing the field. The field strength in turn depends upon the electrostatic capacity between the electrodes. Thus the impedance of the electron stream may be decreased by making the grind-like electrodes of the resonator cover a larger area of the stream, or, in other words, by making smaller the holes in the resonator. through which the electron stream passes. Conversely, the stream impedance may be made larger bydecreasing the area of the electrodes.

Another way in which the ,control of the effective electron current by the impressed voltage may be changed is by changing the initial current in the electron stream. By increasing the initial current in the electron stream the given voltage is efiective upon a greater number of electrons, a greater amount of bunching occurs, and the current caused by the given impressed voltage is increased. The initial electron current may of course be increased by increasing the emission -from the electron gun or other source of electrons employed.

Various expedients are available for varying the creasing the area of the grids and at the same time to increase the impedance of the resonator by increasing the separation of the grids and thus to improve the impedance match between the electron stream and the resonator. It would. be equally feasible to increase the impedance of the electron stream and decrease the impedance of the resonator if the case required.

A further feature of the invention is the use of a condenser in series with the resonator to secure a broader band of transmitted frequencies than is obtainable with the resonator alone.

Realization of substantially the full transmission tron type resonator showing electrostatic exciting band of the coupling circuit is assured by means of impedance matching.

Another feature is the utilization of a single electron stream in more than one stage of amplification with provision. for erasing the density Fig. 2 is an equivalent circuit of the system of Fig. l with respect to the transmission of high frequency waves;

Fig. -3 is another equivalent circuit of the system of Fig. 1 for high frequencies, a modified form of the circuit of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a multistage, broad-band amplifier structure;

Fig. 5A is a cross-sectional view of a rhumba' means and including a diagrammatic indication of the presence of a standing wave inside the resonator;

Fig. 5B is an equivalent circuit of the structure of Fig. 5A for high frequencies;

' Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of an oscillator employing narrow band coupling circuits and open mesh grids, to promote constant: frequency operation;

Fig. 7 is a schematic representation of an oscillator employing broad band coupling circuits and fine mesh grids, to enable operation over a wide band of frequencies as in a frequency modulation system;

Fig. 8A is an elevation and Fig. 813 a crosssectional view of a rhumbatron type resonator with relatively open mesh grids, an associated electron stream of a given average density being indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 8B;

Fig. 9A is an elevation and Fig. 913 a crosssectional view of a resonator like that of Figs. 8A

. Figs. 2 and 3; and

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic representation-of a double grid scheme which is applicable for effecting a lowered value of the impedance-of an electron srteam.

Referring to Fig. 1, which shows in schematic representationan amplifier of the velocity modulation type, II! is an evacuated envelope passing through the perforated reentrant portions I, 2 and 3, 3, respectively of a pair of 'rhumbatrons or resonators 5 and 6. An electron stream in the form of a beam indicated at l is caused to pass down the tube from an electron gun B- or other suitable means to a collector electrode 9 by the action of a battery ii, the latter providing an accelerating potential difierence between the electron gunand the resonators, which are conductively connected together. A battery 65 connected between the cathode and electrode 9 also supplies an accelerating potential and assists in electrons is taken electrode is,

time, passing throughzero'to a positive potential the collection of electrons at the electrode 9. The electron stream is guided and collimated into the beam form by means of a focussing electrode or ring I! which also acts to preventdispersion of electrons in the beam. A transmission line with outer conductor l3 and inner conductor I4 forms a means for introducing into the resonator 5 a high frequency wave to be amplified. The inner conductor I4 is formed into a loop inside the resonator, which loop is inductively related to the curved inner conducting surface of the resonator. Another transmission line with outer conductor l6, inner conductor I1 and. coupling loop I8 is provided for taking output from resonator 6. The system of Fig. 1 operates in the manner of with respect to'the first electrode and the resonator voltage may be represented by a sine wave with positive coefficient. The instant of the pas the Klystron described in an article entitled, A

high frequency oscillator and amplifier." by R. H. and S. F. Varian, in the Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 10, D. 321, May 1939. The beam 1 of electrons upon reaching grid i is of substantially uniform density and the electrons of the beam travel initially with substantially equal velocities. The beam is directed straight along the axis of the tube or envelope under the collimating action of the focussing electrode I2. A wave to be amplified, introduced into resonator 5 by means of loop [5 sets up electromagnetic waves in the interior of the resonator 5 and these periodically establish a high potential differencebetween the grids I v and 2, alternating in polarity.

During the portion of the high frequency cycle when the grid 2 is positive with respectto the grid I, the electromagnetic field produced by the grids is of such polarity as to aid the motion of the electrons from the electron gun 8 toward the collector 9. The electrons situated between the grids i and 2 are'accelerated by the field produced by the resonator and kinetic energy is stored in the electrons. The accelerated electrons begin to gain upon those ahead and thus tend to create a non-uniform density of electrons in the stream.

During the portion of the high frequency cycle when the grid 2 is negative with respect to the grid i, the field produced. by the resonator is in such direction to oppose their motion, thus slowing them down with the result that the field absorbs energy from the electrons.

sage of this sine wave through the zero value from negative to positive value is substantially simultaneous with a maximum of electron concentration midway between the first andsecond electrodes. This may be readily verified by considering that previous to this instant I the electrons that passed the first electrode were slowed down and from then on the electrons are being accelerated. At a slightly later instant these electrons will be arriving at the econd electrode somewhat .bunched together because some of the faster ones behind have overtaken slower ones aheadu The moving of a bunch of electrons into the'neighborhood of the second electrode will result in a compensatory current in the resonator 5, equivalent The electrons thus sloweddown are gained upon by the next group of accelerated electrons,

resulting in a tendency to group or bunch the electrons. The energy which the field of the resonator delivers to the electrons by accelerating them during one half cycle is mostly returned to the field during the succeeding half cycle when other electrons are slowed down by the field. The reaction of the electron stream upon the resonator is thus seen to be'mainly a non-dissipative one, which must be reflected to theresonator in the form of a reactive impedance.

The precise nature of the energy transfer between the generator and the electron stream will be shown more clearly by the following considera- Suppose the electron stream to be comtions. Posed of charges uniformly spaced and all traveling with the same speed and in the-same direction as they pass the first electrode. Between the first and second electrodes the stream is subjected to the field of the resonator. Suppose time is reckoned from an instant when'the field has reversed from a direction in which it tended to retarcl the electrons to a direction in which it tends.

to accelerate them. If a voltage that accelerates to be positive, then the second at the instant that we start to count 3 of the second resonator will negative to a positive value.

to a movement of electrons from the second electrode to the first electrode. In terms of conventional currents, this is a positive current from the first to the second electrode within the resonator. In other words the current is at a positive maximum at substantially the instant when its driving electromotive force is turning from a cosine wave with positive coefficient; and. as related to the driving force, is therefore identified as a capacitive current, leading the electromotive force in phase.

The object of employing the resonator is to alternately store energy in and withdrawenergy from the electrons of the beam. and it was seen above that the energy exchange between the resonator and the beam is analogous to the exchange of energy between a source and a condenser. In

the case of the condenser the storage of energy is accompanied by the concentration of charges upon the plates. In the case of the resonator and, .electronbeam the concentration of charge is in the space in the neighborhood of the second grid of the resonator. Maximum power storage occurs in a condenser charged by a generator of given 'intemal resistance when the reactance of the condenser is matched to the internal resistance of the generator.

space between grid 2 and grid 3 is commonly referred'to as the drift space." 'The wave arriving at grid 3 is'then an amplified copy of the wave leaving grid 2 except that the wave form may be somewhat distorted. A phase diil'erenc'e interaction with the appears between the waves at grid 2 andgrid 3 dependent upon the time ,of transit of the electrons between the two grids. Amplificationresults from the transfer of some of the energy of the initiallyuniform electron stream into alternating current energy by virtue of the bunching of the electrons. The transfer follows from changes in the velocity of individual electrons by resonator 5. As some electrons are accelerated and others decelerated, very little net expenditure of energyis required tostart the bunching operation. which accentuates itself as the electrons move along the drift space.

The cur'rentis a The bunches of electrons, in passingthrough the space between grid 3 and grid 4, induce a wave in the resonator 6 in the usual manner for apparatus of this type. Due to the increased bunching of the electrons effected during their passage through the drift space, the wave induced in resonator 6 is of considerably greater amplitude than the original wave set up in resonator 5. Eificient transfer of energy and power between the electron stream and resonator 6 again calls for a substantial impedance match between the electron stream and the resonator. It will be evident that the impedances will be substantially the same here as at the junction of the electron stream with the resonator 5, due to considerations of symmetry and reciprocity of currents and voltages.

Fig. 2 shows the equivalentcircuit of the system of Fig. 1 for the high frequency wave to be amplified. The coupling loop lvis represented by a primary winding P. The resonator 5 is representedby a secondary winding S, coupled to P, together with a shunt condenser. The reaction of the electron stream is represented by a. transmission line having a surge impedance Z0. amplifying effect of the drift space is represented by a one-way amplifier having the amplification The i band narrower than the band width peculiar to the coupling unit. If the terminating impedance is too high, two peaks of maximum transmission will be developed, one above and one below the center of the band.

When a broader transmission band is desired} the result may be secured by choosing coupling I circuits that have inherently broader transmission bands. The breadth oftransmission band of a coupling circuit is ordinarily measured by the separation in frequency between the transmission p ak which the circuit is capable of developing. In general the separation depends upon the methcient of coupling k. Where f1 and I: represent the peak frequencies, the ratio of to f1, denoted F, is an index of theband width of the circuit. For

the simple form of coupling circuit, shown. in

Figs. 2 and 3, it has been found that 1 fl /1-lt which indicates that fOr small values of coupling such as are ordinarily used the band width is relfactor For simplicity and without loss of gendently be equivalent to the same combination of impedances as the resonator 5 and is accordingly represented by another parallel combination of a condenser and a second coil S. The coupling loop 18 is represented by a second coil P.

It will be readily recognized that reactions inthe drift space are substantially one way in nature, due to the one-way direction of the electron stream itself. While changes in electron concentration are carried along in the stream and accentuated in the direction from the electron stream toward the collector, changes ar in general in no way communicated in the reverse direction. The representation of the amplifier in Fig. 2' as a one-way device is thus warranted. Hence the impedance terminating the input tuned circuit will be the characteristic impedance Zo of the line as shown in the left-hand portion of Fig. 3. If the voltage developed across this impedance is designated e as in Fig. 3, then the I magnitude of the voltage generated at the output end of the drift space is fteg. This-voltage will be the open circuit voltage of the line and will work through the characteristic impedance z. The

Fig. 3, shows that the band width transmitted -is limited by the inherent band width Of the coupling circuits. Within this limit the impedance termination plays a part. For uniform transmission over the complete band, the terminating impedance Zo should match the characteristic impedance of the coupling circuit. For maximum,

transmission at a given frequency of course, the

atively small. A slightly more complex coupling circuit is readily formed by addin a series condenser in the primarycircuit as shown in Fig. 11, the result being a circuit in which, for small coupling values, the band width increases P p tionally to the coupling instead of as the square of the coupling. The corresponding formula is:

L 2k +k /43k fl Numerical calculations show that for a coupling valueof k=0.1, for example, the band width factor Ffor the simple circuit of Figs. 2 and 3 is 1.005 while the value of F for the circuit of Fig. 11 is 1.1. Assuming an operating mean frequency of megacycles the band width in the first example is 500,000 cycles per second-and in the second exampl 10,000,000 cycles per second. Other things being equal, the impedance looking into the circuit of Fig. 11 is lower than that looking into the circuit of Figs. 2 or 3 because of the series condenser.

The particular methods and means for adjust- "ing the impedance of a given resonator and a Fig. 8A shows an elevation of a resonator of the.

rhumbatron type and Fig. 8B shows the same in cross-section along the line B-B' indicated in Fig. 8A. Th resonator is shaped somewhat like a hollow' toroid with a central reentrant portion comprising a'p ir of grids or screens or perforated sheets. Any other suitable arrangement for passing electrons while substantially preventing escape of electromagnetic radiation may be employed instead of the grids illustrated. The toroidal section is shown at 50 and parts of the grids at 5| and 5 2. The electron stream is indicated by parallel lines at 53. The resonator is such as may. be used either as resonator ,5 or resonator 6' in the system of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9A is an elevation of another rhumbatron resonator and Fig. 9B the corresponding crosssection. Here the grids 54 and 55 are shown v spaced further apart than the corresponding grids 5| and 52 in Fig. 8B. This changegives the resonator of Figs. 9A and 913 a higher effective impesame-impedance matchis required. Considering v impressed alternating voltage.

- 63 to grid 64,

, orderof magnitude and closely as circumstances mit.

dance as a resonator than is the case in the resonator of Figs. 8A and 8B. In addition, the grids 54 and 55 are. of finer mesh than grids and 52. Other things being equal, the grids 54 and 55 exert a greater control upon the electron stream than do the'grids 5| and 52. The result is alower I value of the characteristic impedance of the electron stream. Under suitable circumstances then,

a resonator may be designed with moderately separated, open meshedgrids as in Figs. 8A and 8B or with farther separated closer meshed grids as in Figs. 9A and 9B or other combination to effect any desired degree of impedance matching effect between the resonator and the electron stream. Alternatively, the electron flow in the electron stream may be changed, as in Fig.10B where a pling condensers are greater electron flow is indicated by more closely drawn parallel lines at 56 compared with the lines 53 in Fig. 8B. The efi'ect of increasing the rate The impedance of the electron stream may also be controlled by using the arrangement of Hahn and Metcalf above referred to, in which the two grids l and 2 and 64 as in Fig. 12. The second and third grids 62 and 63 are connected together, and likewise grids 6| and 64. The exciting voltage is impressed between the grid system 6|, '64 and the grid system '62, 63 by a suitable generator 66. The transit time of an electron from grid 6| to grid 62, and from grid 63 to grid '64 is in both cases preferably very small compared to the transit time from grid 62 to grid63. The'transit time between grid 62 and grid 63 is preferably one-half cycle of the Since the arrangement or the grids and the connection of the generator is such that the voltage drop from grid 6| to grid '62 is always the reverse of that from grid an electron which receives an acceleration, for example, in traveling between BI and 62 will receive another equal acceleration in traveling from 63 to.64. A similarstate of affairs exists for electrons that pass grid 6| at such time as to be retarded by the field. Th device of the two pairs of grids properly spaced, as taught by Hahn and Metcalf, is thus'seen to be effective to produce twice as much-bunching of electrons with a given generator voltage as will be obtained with a single pair of grids. The combination gives one-half of the impedance of the electron stream that is obtained with the single pair of grids.

Thus the arrangement may be made use of in a The best proportions for a resonator in any giv en case may be most readily found by trial. The proportions for impedance matching should usually be such as to provide impedances of the same beyond that. the exact value will ordinarily not be very critical. nator '6 should usually be proportioned the same as resonator 5. As a matter of refinementan exact impedance match may be approached as require or conditions per- Fig. 4 shows a two-stage amplifier employing a single electron stream and broadband coupling circuits. The arrangements are generally similar except that four resol to those shown in Fig. 1 nators are provided instead of two and certain Figs.

are replaced by four grids GI, 62, 63

are provided. Series coushown at I9, 20 and 2| and a long focusing coil at 22. Anodes are provided at 9 and 23 and following the anode 9 a retarding electrode 24 is inserted, at the potential of the cathode or differing from that potential by a small amount. The action of the first two resonators is similar to that of the resonators in the system of Fig. 1. Resonator 5 impresses velocity variations upon the electron stream. Resonator '6 removes most of the variations from the electron stream, leaving mainly a steady flow of electrons uniformly spaced. The electrode 24 then reduces the'speed of the electrons tov a small value. Before reaching the third resonator the electrons additional elements.

are again speeded up by a potential applied to the second accelerator. The alternating output of the second resonator is supplied to the third resonator through a coupling circuit including the seriescondenser 20. Electrons-are again bunched by the'action of the third resonator and an amplified current is induced'in the fourth resonator. The amplification for the two stages, expressed in decibels, may be expected toapproach twice that for a single stage. The long focus'sing coil 22 acts to prevent diifusion of electrons away from the stream, which is in beam form, so that most of the electrons used in the first stage are also available in the second stage. a

Fig. 5A shows a resonator excited by electrostatic means, shown as electrodes 21 and 23 instead of the electromagnetic means comprising the loop I 5. of Fig. 1. The equivalent electrical circuit for this arrangement is shown in Fig. 5B.

to effect a broadening of the transmission band analogously to that secured by using a series conthe input resonator 29 and output resonator, 30

are coupled together by the combination of loops 3! and 32 and an interconnected transmission line with inner conductor 33 and outer conductor constancy of frequency, the coupling chosen to be of the narrow band resonators.

promoted by usingthe open 34. The output is made available for outside connection by means of a loop 35. The grids 36, 31, and 39 are of very open mesh. The arrangement is self-excited bymeans of the coupling between the resonators and operates asan oscillator in well-known manner. To promote circuits are type as in Fig.'. 1 rather than the broad band type of Fig. 11. To narrow the band still furthe the coupling between the resonators should be made small. In order to sustain the oscillations with the .small coupling the reactance to resistance ratio or value of Q in the resonators should be kept as large as possible. A high value of Q is mesh form of grid, thus giving a high impedance termination for the In general, those eflects which narrow the band or raise the value of Q have the result of confining phase changes of the system mainly to a very narrow frequency band as well. Any voltage occur in the system will tend to change the transit time for electronstraveling down the tube in the drift space. To makeup for such a change in transit time the systemfwill have to shift toa slightly different operating frequency, at which new frequency the phase shift inthe resonators will compensate for. the change intransit time."

change, which may for any reason quency modulation and impedance terminations.

In a, narrow band, high Q circuit the change of phase with frequency takes place at a very high rate. Consequently, a given change in phase will require only a very slight change in operating' frequency to effect its compensation. Hence the circuit is inherently one to promote constancy of frequency within close limits.

Fig. 7 shows a system suitable for use in freis in some respects the converse of the system of Fig. 6. A broad band coupling is provided by the insertion of series condensers Ml and 41. The grids d2, d3, id and 4%; are of a relatively close mesh, providing low A control grid as is added and a source (ll of modulating potentials. Here a disturbing voltage is deliberately impressed upon grid 48 by means of source all for the purpose of changing the transit time and hence the operating frequency. Due to the wide band characteristic and the low values of Q employed, the system must make a relatively large frequency change to compensate for a given change in voltage. The voltage change may be impressed upon the control grid to as shown, or it might be impressed upon the collector 55.

While the invention has been illustrated by the showing of systems having resonators such as hollow bodies supporting standing waves interiorly, it will be appreciated that resonators of other types may be used, or wave guides of various types, and that traveling waves may be used instead of standing waves, if desired.

. It is not intended that the invention be limited to the means and methods shown for controlling the impedance of the electron stream or the impedance of the resonator or wave guide, the means and methodsshown being merely illustrative.

What is claimed is:

maintain an electron stream. two resonating 1. In a frequency modulating system, means to maintain an electron stream, a pair of hollow syntonous resonators each having two electron permeable electrodes situated in the path of said electron stream, said electron permeable electrodes being of relatively close'mesh, means for coupling said resonators together to produce oscillaticns, a. series condenser incorporated in said coupling means, and means for varying the electron transit'time between said resonators in accordance with a signal wave to vary the frequency of the oscillations.

2.. In a frequency modulation system, two syn-- tonous resonant circuits, unidirectional'coupling means connecting said circuits, said unidirectional coupling means being characterized by a finite transmission time, inductive feedback coupling 'of the said self oscillations, and a condenser in series with said inductive feedback coupling means for increasing the degree of the said frequency variation corresponding to a given variation in said transmission time.

3. In a variable frequency generating system, two syntonous electric circuits, unidirectional coupling means connecting saidcircuits, inductive feedback coupling means connecting said circuits to promote self oscillations in conjunction with said unidirectional coupling means, a load circuit, inductive coupling means connecting one of said syntonous circuits to said load circuit, means to vary the frequency of said self oscillations, and a. condenser in series with each of said inductive coupling means, to increase the degree of the said frequency variation resulting from a given operation of the said frequency varying means.

i. In a frequency modulating system, means to chambers each having an electron permeable portion located in the path of said electron stream whereby the said stream may successively traverse bothof said resonating chambers, inductive means for coupling said resonating chambers to-v gether to produce sustained oscillations, a condenser serially connected in circuit with said inductive means, and means for varying the frequency of said sustained oscillations.

5. In a frequency modulation system, means to maintain an electron stream, two resonating chambers each having electron permeable portions located in the path of said electron stream, inductive means for coupling said resonating chambers together, a condenser in series with said coupling means,

an output circuit inductively coupled to one of said resonating chambers, a. condenser serially connected in said output circuit, and means for varying the electron transit time in said electron stream in transit between said resonating chambers.

6. In a frequency modulating system, means to maintain an electron stream, means located in succession along the path of said electron stream including in order in the direction of momeans connecting-said circuits to produce self oscillations in conjunction with said unidirectional coupling means, means to vary the transmission time ,of said unidirectional coupling permeable electrodes 'tion of the electrons in said-stream, an electrode for controlling the speed of the electrons, a pair of electron permeable electrodes, means defining a drift space, another pair of electron permeable electrodes and an electron collecting electrode, said first and second mentioned pairs of electron being connected to syntonous resonators, inductive coupling means connecting said resonators, and a'condenser serially connected to said coupling means.

WARREN P. MASON. 

